The 20 Best Shows I Saw In 2009

Since I’ve spent the last 3 months consumed with fatherhood and generally haven’t gotten out much, the overwhelming majority of shows I saw in 2009 were between January and September, including all of the ones listed below. Still, I did see well over 50 shows in those 9 months, including a lot of really amazing local acts that you’ve probably never heard of even if you live around here, more than pretty much any other year of my life except for the previous one (others years I made lists: 2005, 2007 and 2008). Artists in each show are listed roughly by order of enjoyment rather than billing: